ND beats U-M at its own game

December 09, 2006|STEVE WOZNIAK Tribune Staff Writer

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- All season long, Notre Dame has relied on a defensive, physical style of play to rise to the top tier of the college hockey world. Friday night at Yost Arena, they abandoned all that and instead were forced to go toe-to-toe with Michigan's game of speed and finesse. Turns out that works well for the Irish too. Erik Condra scored a goal and added three assists, and David Brown stopped 27 of 29 shots against the most creative and furious offense he's faced this season as the fifth-ranked Irish powered past the No. 7 Wolverines, 7-3, to further stake their claim as the best team in the CCHA conference. With the win -- Notre Dame's fifth in six games against ranked teams this year -- the Irish (13-3-1, 8-2-1 CCHA) also matched their win total from last season. And they're not even to the midpoint of the season yet. "Getting a game against Michigan is invaluable for our team's confidence," said Irish coach Jeff Jackson. "This team has had a tough go against Michigan for the last three or four years, maybe longer. I think it's important for our team to know we can play with them." The Irish wasted no time, scoring on the first shot of the game just 1:08 in when defenseman Tom Sawatske took a pass from Condra in the corner and blistered a slap shot from just inside the blue line to beat Wolverines goalie Billy Sauer. Notre Dame made it 2-0 with just 33 seconds remaining in the first period on a power play when Garrett Regan flipped a rebound of Brett Blatchford's slap shot past Sauer from the right of the crease. Michigan protested the goal, pointing out the net had come off its moorings before the score. After viewing the replay, referee Brian Aaron said he could not be 100 percent sure the net was dislodged, and so allowed the goal to stand. It was a lucky break in a first period that for the most part, Michigan dominated. "I think they dictated the tempo," said Jackson. "I thought they had the tempo of the game early and that wasn't working in our favor. I thought we had a lot of nervous energy tonight, and had some uncharacteristic mistakes with the puck. (The Wolverines) come at you with so much speed. They're the fastest team we've seen all year and that was a real eye-opener for some of our guys." "I have to give Notre Dame credit. They took advantage of their chances," said Michigan coach Red Berenson. "From our perspective, we gave up goals too easily." After Andrew Cogliano scored for Michigan just 11 seconds into the second period, the Irish responded on a 4-on-3 power play two minutes later when Condra grabbed a rebound of Noah Babin's slap shot and potted it behind Sauer to make it 3-1. "He did some great things, which he always does," Jackson said of Condra. "He was real nervous with the puck because he was trying to make too many plays, but that's what great players do." Michigan (12-6-0, 8-4-0 CCHA) closed to within a goal again when Brandon Naurato snapped one high past Brown after Brown had flopped to the ice to make two stellar saves on Mark Mitera and Travis Turnbull. But this time it took Notre Dame only a little more than a minute to respond, when Josh Sciba deflected Blatchford's slap shot high past Sauer. The Irish ran the lead to three when Kevin Deeth skated down the right side and caught Sauer cheating on the angle and moving out of the crease. Deeth fed a beautiful cross-ice pass on the left of the crease to Ryan Thang, who deflected it into an empty side of the net for an easy score. Sauer was pulled by Berenson in the third period for Steve Jakiel. Jakiel was slightly better, but Christian Hanson still continued the Irish onslaught at the 7:22 mark of the third when he redirected a Blatchford shot through the five hole. Chad Kolarik added a goal for Michigan with 6:06 left in the game, but even the previously raucous crowd couldn't muster much celebration at that point. Notre Dame ran the lead back to four just 27 seconds later when Evan Rankin took a perfect feed from Condra in the slot and then beat Jakiel with a beautiful backhand after faking him right and then left. Notre Dame and Michigan will wrap up the series with a 3:05 game Sunday at the Joyce Center. Notre Dame232-- 7Michigan021-- 3FIRST PERIOD: ND, Tom Sawatske (Erik Condra, Wes O'Neill) 1:08; ND, Garrett Regan (Brett Blatchford, Wes O'Neill) PP 19:27. Penalties: ND, 2 for 4 minutes; UM, 2 for 4 minutes SECOND PERIOD: UM, Andrew Cogliano (Matt Hunwick) 0:11; ND, Condra (Noah Babin, Kyle Lawson) PP 2:17; UM, Brandon Naurato (Travis Turnbull, Mark Mitera) PP 12:10; ND, Josh Sciba (Blatchford) 13:14; ND, Ryan Thang (Kevin Deeth, Condra) 18:40. Penalties: ND, 3 for 6 minutes; UM, 3 for 6 minutes THIRD PERIOD: ND, Christian Hanson (Blatchford, Mark Van Guilder) 7:18; UM, Chad Kolarik (Kevin Porter) 13:54; ND, Evan Rankin (Condra, Sawatske) 14:11 Penalties: ND, 3 for 6 minutes; UM, 3 for 6 minutes Shots on goal: Notre Dame 5-11-6 -- 22, Michigan 9-13-7 -- 29; Power plays: Notre Dame 2-for-7, Michigan 1-for-7; Goalies: ND, David Brown (29 shots, 27 saves), UM, Billy Sauer (16, 11) Steve Jakiel (6, 4); Att.: 6,215; Referee: Brian Aaron; Linesmen: T.J. Likens, Brian Hill.